Editors Note: This post was submitted by Kim Watson, a Ms. JD Fellow and 3L at Illinois Law.  The Ms. JD Fellowship is the result of partnership between Ms. JD and the ABA Commission on Women in the Profession.  Fellows, who are rising 3Ls, are paired with an ABA Commissioner or Margaret Brent Award Winner as part of a year long mentorship.  Applications for next year's fellowship will be available in January. 

  As part of their fellowship, each Ms. JD fellow writes a post for the blog about an issue of importance to them.  Kim has been very involved with the Women's Bar Association of Illinois and in her post she describes the benefits of her involvement.  To learn more about Kim and the other 2011 fellows, click here.

It is difficult to find time to dedicate oneself to outside endeavors with schoolwork or the demands of legal practice. However, we sometimes forget that it is the activities we engage in outside of school and work that are crucial to our success in the legal field and provide us with the most satisfaction. As a young attorney or law student, I would encourage you to become involved with the young lawyers/law school committee at your local women’s bar association. If your local women’s bar association does not have one, now is the time to start speaking with them about adopting one.

Last year the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois (WBAI) formed its first Young Lawyers/Law School Initiative Committee made up of dedicated young lawyers and law student representatives from 9 Illinois law schools. In just one year, this committee has provided law students and young lawyers with invaluable networking experiences and has brought younger and older generations of females together for the purpose of encouraging women in the legal field. This committee is a leading example of how we can retain female attorneys in the legal field by providing young females opportunities to find support from practicing female attorneys.

There are several reasons why it is worth your time to become a part of a young lawyers/law school committee, especially one connected with a women’s bar association. Here is just a sampling of the wonderful events and programs the Young Lawyers/Law School Initiative Committee participates in to assist law students and young lawyers:

Mentoring Program: The WBAI matches practicing attorneys and judges with law students based on common interests. Students have the opportunity to meet one on one with their mentors, shadow them and accompany them to WBAI events. This is a tremendous networking opportunity and a great way to enhance the relationships and discussions between law students and practicing attorneys. For me, the experience has been priceless. My mentor has taken the time to discuss how she has progressed at a large law firm and educated me on the ways I can succeed in my legal career. The mentoring does not stop here. At WBAI Events, such as the Annual Dinner, members have countless opportunities to meet extremely impressive women who are willing to take young females under their wings. What better place to meet practicing female attorneys than events dedicated to progressing women in the legal field?

Young Lawyers Panel: “For Your Summer, For Your Career: Making the Most of Your Law Degree”: The Young Lawyers/Law School Initiative Committee hosted a panel about making the most of your law degree with keynote speaker Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne M. Burke. The event was a huge success with over 150 attendees. The panel shared stories about giving back to the community and how they have succeeded in their legal careers. After the panel, attendees and the panelists attended a reception where law students could network. The heads of the committee took it upon themselves to introduce the law student representatives to as many attorneys as possible. Being a part of a committee makes it much easier to network and meet other attorneys. It was a great opportunity to see how many practicing attorneys are willing to assist young attorneys and law students.

Other WBAI Events: At the WBAI, law students and young lawyers are constantly being asked if they would like to volunteer at the events. This is one of the best ways to network. You instantly have a bond with all the other attorneys who are working on the event and you have a conversation topic. In addition, while you are working the event, you have a perfect outlet to engage with numerous attorneys. Checking people into an event is a phenomenal way to meet people.

Being a law student representative for the Young Lawyer/Law Student Committee has been an extremely rewarding experience. It is exciting to see women from all levels in their careers join together and share ideas and tips on succeeding in your legal career. We need more committees like the WBAI’s in order to continue the retention of women in the legal community.